Meet Joe Caiola, Director of Service DeliveryCAD Q&A Blog Series | Employee Interview
This ain’t your grandma’s IT-shop. At Carolina Advanced Digital, we’ve mastered the art of having fun while we get the job done. A company is only as good as its employees, and as a nationally-recognized leader in technology infrastructure and security solutions, there’s no doubt that our employees are the best.
The success of our company would not be possible without our dedicated team members. We sat down with Joe Caiola, Director of Service Delivery, to discuss his role, effective team management and why he decided to join our work family.
Tell us about yourself and your position at Carolina Advanced Digital.
I have worked at Carolina Advanced Digital for one year. My involvement in Information Technology management spans more than 25 years, and I have a broad spectrum of experience in many areas. Here at Carolina Advanced Digital, I manage our service delivery relationship with a large portfolio of clients. I am responsible for the development and implementation of organizational strategies, policies and practices. One of my primary functions is to oversee the delivery of services to the company’s clients.
Have you always been interested in technology and security?
I have always been interested in technology, in several different areas. Most recently, IT security has been my focus because of the importance it has in society and its impact on businesses. In today’s tech driven world, IT and security play an important role in all industries, and that need will only continue to grow.
Why did you decide to work at Carolina Advanced Digital?
I was initially drawn to the company for potential growth opportunities. Carolina Advanced Digital is rapidly expanding. In fact, we recently moved our headquarters to make room for company growth. I feel passionate about the management’s vision, to provide jobs and stimulate the local economy, provide expert IT, security and customer service, and give back to the community. I was also attracted to the company’s security-focused offerings as well as its reputation and personnel. It is for all these reasons that I enjoy working here.
What sets Carolina Advanced Digital apart from competitors?
The management’s commitment to continuous education is what sets us apart. In the world of security and IT, everything is constantly changing, and it’s important that our professionals have the resources and training needed to adapt. Carolina Advanced Digital offers advanced technical support and an extensive portfolio of industry and manufacturer solutions. Our teams work around the clock to provide customers with the highest quality of enterprise-grade solutions, and we have a customer loyalty program that includes discounts, free hands-on training, and pre- and post-sales support.
What is the most exciting part of your job?
It is really exciting to be exposed to state-of-the-art technology. Carolina Advanced Digital’s best-of-breed products and solutions run on the industry’s top technology, and I love being able to see how the technology is implemented among our diverse clientele. I enjoy working with our clients and staff. We place a heavy emphasis on treating our clients and staff like family which fosters a positive work environment.
How have you grown professionally and personally during your time at Carolina Advanced Digital?
Since joining the company, I have been able to be more hands-on than I had been in prior positions. I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with the latest technology and products that have and continue to shape today’s cyber industry.
What is the most important part of managing a team? Do you have any advice for directors on effective leadership?
Open communication is key. I oversee the engineering team, professional services delivery and the engineering-assisted sales strategy, so it is important to encourage transparency and openness across my teams. Collaborating with other technical experts and setting achievable goals are also important to managing a team. When everyone is on the same page and working towards an agreed upon goal, it’s easier to get the job done.
How do you ensure Carolina Advanced Digital is upholding it standards and values?
I frequently monitor customer feedback to ensure that we are performing to internal and client expectations. It’s our mission to help our customers achieve their objectives through exceptional engineering, so I want to ensure we are upholding our end of the bargain. We are proud to have a 5/5 average customer survey rating for both sales and services.
What trends do you predict will be most impactful on the cybersecurity industry in 2019?
AI will continue to be a prominent technology in cybersecurity applications going forward. AI and machine learning will be able to recognize patterns and identify threats, allowing companies to rely on these tools to monitor and respond to incidents.
Where do you see Carolina Advanced Digital in 5 years?
I believe the future looks bright for Carolina Advanced Digital. In five years, we will grow due to an enhanced product portfolio including IT security, wireless and managed services. As we continue to roll out our own products and solutions such as the Turnkey Service Menu options and Athena Secure Managed Solutions, we hope to appeal to a wider customer base by offering advanced technologies at affordable rates. I’m excited to play an active role in the company’s expansion.
